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Lettcrs Patcnt N 98,916, dated J (January 18, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING- AND STUFIING- LEATHER The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

of La Fayette, in thecounty of Tippecanoe, and State of Indiana, have invented an Improved Process for Tanning and Stufling Leather.

The following description will enable persons skilled in the art to reduce my process to practice.

The tanning-compounds heretofore used for treat ing hides, have almost invariably had the effect of destroying the gluten therein,whereby the tenacity of the leather was impaired to a great extent. And in 'finishingihe leather thus prepared, too little attention has been paid to making it soft and pliable, so that it shall not, after a little wear, become brittle and break. It is the object of my invention to treat the hides with a tanning-compound which shall leave the gln ten in such hides to a great extent unimpaired, but at thesame time give the necessary elasticity and pliabili-ty to the finished product; and also, afterward, to

treat the hides thus tanned with another compound,

to increase the pliability and softness of the finished leather. p

The first part of my process consists in treating the hides with a tanning-compound, composed of the following ingredients:

Nitrate o'f potassa, four ounces.

Alum, two ounces.

Terra-japonica, two ounces.

Sulphuric acid, two drachms; o

Distilled water, two quarts.

In preparing this compound, the nitrate of potassa, alum, and terra-japonica, are first dissolved in the water, after which the sulphuric acid is added.

The hides aresoaked in a compound thus prepared, from, say, five to ten days, after which they are taken out and stuffed.

For this part of my process, I use a compound composed of the following ingredients, in the proportions stated:

God-liver oil, two ounces.

Neats-foot oil, two ounces.

Glycerine, two ounces;

Tallow, four ounces.

This compound is prepared by placing the did'erent substances in a kettle, and subjecting them to the action of' heat for a sufficient length of time to produce a perfect union of such substances. The compound thus prepared is spread on the tanned hides, upon both sides, which are then hung up to dry, the whole process being completed in about fifteen days.

I am aware that tanning-compounds are in use, in which some or all of the ingredients are used which I employ, but I have found, by actual experiments, that no other combination of these ingredients than that above given will produce the result at which I have aimed, namely, to tan the hides without destroying the gluten in them, whereby the strength. of the raw hide is retained, and at the same time giving the necessary elasticity and pliabilityto the finished leather.

Having thus described my improved process for tanning and stuffing leather,

\Vhat I'claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The process of tanning and stufling leather, herein set forth, by first treating the raw hides with a compound composed of the ingredients and in the propor-- tions specified, and afterward stuffing the tanned hides by another compound, composed of such ingredients, and in the proportions as herein described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this; specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. B. BRITTINGHAM.

Witnesses:

B. EDW. J. ELLS, O. F. CLAUSE-N. 

